Artists Hated by Quarantine Restrictions Protest: Sending a Message to the Government

Decision makers do not listen to the voices of individual cultural figures

The artists Kristina Alsytė, Goda Lukaitė and Adelė Liepa Kaunaitė, who gathered the protest, assured that the event sought to draw attention to the limitations of the dissemination of creative activities and related problems.

“Many opinions were expressed on the Internet about the cultural situation during the pandemic, anticipating some changes, but without receiving them, we decided to take the initiative and express our highest position,” said the organizers.

Although the ability of museums and galleries to work to ensure visitor safety has been discussed many times, no real decisions have been made so far. From March 6. the mitigation package includes permission to physically serve visitors in libraries, as well as to operate educational trails, parks, museums, galleries and other exhibition spaces, zoos and botanical gardens in open outdoor spaces. They will also be open to groups of up to five people or two families.

With the government allowing the small shops to resume operations, some of the galleries that housed the art shops have opened their doors to visitors.

According to the artists gathered in protest, they seek to draw attention to professional art, its inaccessibility to the public due to quarantine, in this peaceful procession.

One of the organizers of the protest, K. Alsytė “Delfi”, was consoled that the expert decision makers do not listen to the voices of individual artists and cultural representatives, so it is expected that it will attract attention and express problems, expectations and suggestions in your field.

The work of curators and art critics limps

According to K. Alsytė, although museums and galleries try to maneuver during this difficult period by creating virtual showcases or exhibitions, these are not traditional methods of exhibition in the country; they are generally chosen not because it is the original idea of ​​the author, but simply in the absence of other possible alternatives.

“Compared to normal conditions, only a small number of artists commit to organizing exhibitions, because the aforementioned formats are not suitable for displaying their work. Looking at the painting on a computer screen, we cannot understand the actual format, the texture … Hence other problems: the work of curators, art critics, the art market ”, – K. Alsytė mentioned the main difficulties that artists face today. .

As other protest organizers G. Lukaitė and AL Kaunaitė have noted before Delfi, the decision to allow the organization of exhibitions in open spaces does not change anything, and similar projects such as “Art without a roof”, MO museum open-air exhibitions, “Gallery rooster” exhibition “Skalvija” in the cinema windows – it worked even before this release.

Asked what would be the appropriate solution today, the organizers of the protest said that the situation should be analyzed further, evaluating the areas of galleries, museums and the flow of visitors.

“It is also an illogical solution to open galleries with stores inside. What is the difference between a simple gallery and one that sells souvenirs? The artist asked.

Areas are large, meetings of people are often not seen

People, according to protesters, already tired of quarantine restrictions, are getting angry, and the power of culture and art is to expand thought, bring aesthetic joy, and elevate spirituality.

It seems like a closed circle: artists need galleries to show their work and galleries need visitors. The deciding factor in this situation is the number of coronavirus cases, a clear argument that is difficult to refute. I wonder if it is possible to influence these figures with the protests … What are the expectations of the protesters?

“The gallery and museum areas are large, the gatherings of people are often not seen there. We are not talking about exhibition openings with a lot of people, we are talking about controlled flows. Every day people travel by public transport, they go from shopping, now they can take care of beauty services and it is still not possible to feed the soul ”, lamented the organizers of the protest.

The artist Andrius Makarevičius, who came to support the organizer, said that at the moment it is not easy for artists, as it is for everyone. And peaceful protests, he said, help more than protests on the couch.

“I create workshops at home. If before you reflected on the environment, now you look at yourself more. It’s a shame, there is nowhere to show the results, and even if you organize an exhibition, it is closed and meaningless. Of course, you could open the door, attendance at galleries or museums is not limited acropolis With maximums… Not doing exhibition openings could work very well. As far as I know, the galleries are really willing to limit the number of people, if necessary, ”said A. Makarevičius.

Does not give high hopes

Artist Dalia Juodakytė, who is painting graphic pictures, also supported the idea of ​​peaceful protest. According to her, the biggest problem is that the supermarkets are open and the exhibitions, which are not visited by a small number of people and are exhibited in large spaces, remain closed.

“In my opinion, it is unfair and inappropriate for supermarkets to be open, where many people congregate, and it is difficult to keep a distance. Galleries that are visited by a reduced number of people with larger spaces are closed. People of culture are still at a disadvantage ”, reasoned D. Juodakytė.

According to her, it is just a discrepancy: “People should reorient themselves from consumerism to the spiritual things that art cultivates.”

According to D. Juodakytė, the exit of art to open spaces is something welcome, but the objective of this peaceful protest is to open galleries so that artists can exhibit their works and visitors can see and buy them.

The artist said that she did not know if anything would be achieved with this protest, it is difficult to predict. “Given that teachers stayed overnight at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, and yet they were not taken much into account (teachers went on strike due to full-time pay, in 2018 – aut . Past). We do not give high hopes that something will change. But it is worth trying, we will pay some attention “, hoped D. Juodakytė.

Ignoring culture when a pandemic subsides is not very logical

Saulius Paukštys, a photographer who has expressed his support for the organizers of the protest on the social network, is convinced that ignoring culture during a pandemic is not very logical: “The density of people in museums and during non-quarantine is much less than in larger supermarkets. Museums are well ventilated, maintain distances, regulate the flow of people. It seems to me that the Government has had trouble understanding what showrooms are in general. There is no need to cover yourself with disease numbers. You first need to understand how that process works. That is the biggest problem “.

According to S. Paukštis, in such a situation a peaceful protest is necessary. “Any reminder is important, all means should be used. Perhaps, in fact, those so-called decision makers, when they close their work, fill in the tables, calculate, forget, do not pay attention, perhaps open their eyes,” he hoped.

S. Paukštys regretted that it was about helping companies, small and large companies, and artists were left out. “Some do not even receive a basic allowance of several hundred euros. The Culture Council cannot support everyone either, as it has limited funds for projects under state rules. As the situation worsens, everyone hopes to get something, but I think that one in ten people will receive … The disappointment will increase even more ”, said the photographer with a bleak future.

Minister of Culture: Decisions will be discussed next week

Culture Minister Simonas Kairys, responding to a protest by representatives of the cultural sector in the capital on Saturday, says the dissatisfaction of artists with closed cultural spaces is understandable.

The minister says decisions on the safe operation of museums and galleries will be discussed next week.

“I listen to those who have expressed their position today as they take to the streets with their works, and those who are quietly experiencing the frustration of not being able to continue their usual artistic activities,” Kairys said in a ministry statement.

I also hear the clear desire of society for more quality leisure opportunities. I assure you that our objective is common, so next week we will discuss solutions in the emergency committee that would allow us to return safely to the first museums and galleries, ”he said.

This week S. Kairys met with representatives of the Council of Museums, the Lithuanian Museum Association and the MO Museum.

“The minister’s team, together with the museologists, agreed to put together specific details in preparation for the future opening of museums in municipalities where the epidemiological situation is better, and prepared a proposal for additional museums in cities where the situation remains tense,” the ministry. it said in a statement.

According to the minister, in the current situation it is necessary to maintain a balance between the public’s expectations of seeing artists who have returned to their work, and the recommendations of health experts and ensuring the safety of workers and cultural visitors.

Kairys also called for COVID-19 to be used and tested.